Vascular disease is a condition that involves the circulatory system. The veins and arteries, collectively known as the blood vessels are tubes that are tasked to pump blood throughout the body.
Arteries carry blood to the different body organs while the veins work by bringing blood back to the heart. Problems that develop in these blood highways may lead to severe health complications and may even cause death.
Vascular diseases usually develop when the blood flow becomes turbulent or when there is change in the flow. There is no absolute cure for vascular diseases. However it is fortunate to note that it is both manageable and treatable. Treatment for most vascular disease usually comprise of medication and lifestyle changes.
Surgeries are only an option once all the other non-invasive alternatives have been exhausted and the condition calls for a more pronounced method of treatment. The main goal of treating vascular diseases is to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Other goals include reducing and managing symptoms and improving the patient’s overall quality of life.
The course of treatment for vascular diseases varies from one patient to another. The best treatment is determined after assessing the signs and symptoms as well as the personal risk factors and after a thorough examination has been conducted.
What are some of the Ways Vascular Diseases are Managed?
Medication
In some instances, lifestyle modifications just won’t cut it. This is where medications come in. Medications are given in order to further decrease the risk of developing deadly vascular complications like stroke or heart attacks.
Medicines can help improve the cholesterol levels, manage high blood pressure, and reduce blood clots. Other medications given will also help with claudication and pain management especially during walking or exercise.
Healthy Modifications
If you smoke, now is the right time to quit for good. If you find it challenging, if not totally impossible to quit the habit, consider getting help from a trusted professional. They can offer effective techniques, medicines, or even counseling that will make the transition more smooth sailing and less stressful.
The superb benefits of regular exercise cannot be overemphasized. Apart from the aesthetic and mental benefits it offers, it can also keep you healthier. If you have not exercised for a long time, you can start with light routines you can incorporate in your day-to-day activities.
Jogging and walking would be good activities to start with. You can also include swimming and running once you are more confident in your fitness capabilities.
Even a 30-minute activity can already do you a world of good, given that it is done on a consistent basis.
Surgeries and Other Procedures
Atherectomy
This surgical procedure is done to remove plaque from the artery. It is carried out by using a tiny cutting device that is used to cut off, clear out, and dissolve the plaque. It is then carried out using a catheter. If the plaque is minimal, it can just be left out and allowed to wash in the bloodstream.
Bypass Grafting
If the blood flow in your leg is blocked, the doctor will most likely recommend a procedure called bypass grafting surgery. This is done by taking a blood vessel from another body part or using an artificial tube to make a graft. This graft will make it possible for the blood to bypass the blockage and pass through.
Stent Placement and Angioplasty
If your artery is blocked or narrowed, stent placement and angioplasty might be recommended to restore your blood’s normal flow. A catheter with a balloon tip is inserted into the artery that is blocked and will then be inflated. It works by pushing the plaque that might be blocking the vessel and it widens the vessel to restore the normal blood flow.
Angioplasty is carried out using a small mesh tube or stent that is placed in the artery to keep it open. There are also stents that are coated with medication to help prevent artery blockages.
If you have been diagnosed with vascular disease, it is imperative that you make healthy lifestyle modifications and seek treatment in order to prevent complications. Also, if you think you are predisposed to developing the disease, get in touch with a medical professional so you can be assessed and proper management and treatment can commence right away.